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Think Big (and Green) but Live Small With the Very Chic Carapate Camper

Not all campers are alike, but Carapate stands out from the crowd. One French startup aims to offer viable and, at the same time, price-accessible and sustainable, options to anyone looking to get away for a few days.
Carapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal space 14 photos
Photo: Carapate
Carapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal spaceCarapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal space
Think of it this way: less of a guilty conscience at a fraction of the price. Low price and low maintenance, a small space but maximum comfort and even the chicest house on wheels you’ve seen as of late.

Officially announced last month, the two camper models from Carapate, Carapate and Carriole, are ideal for life on the road when you’re willing to live small but continue to think big – and green. Carriole is the cheapest version, which is neither electric nor fitted with solar panels, and comes with the bare necessities, while Carapate is the fancier, greener and cozier version. We’ll discuss the latter today.

You don’t need a fancy, massive trailer that looks like a luxury hotel on wheels to hit the road. Put it differently, maybe you do need or want one, but can’t afford it, since pricing on those tends to go higher than $150,000 for the electric versions. This is where Carapate, the little camper that could, comes in: with prices starting at $16,500, it’s the tiniest thing, but it’s also cozy, elegant and quite capable.

Measuring 10.5-feet, Carapate has only 65 square feet of living space. With all that, it comes with sleeping for two adults and one child (with an optional mattress for the kid), an incorporated basic kitchen and enough storage space to allow you to bring all the essentials with you.

Carapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal space
Photo: Carapate
With optional features, or “backpacks” as the maker calls them, you can fit it with a solar panel (120W) and a battery system which, in conjunction with the charging outlet, can guarantee you a few days completely off the grid. Granted, it’s not a comparable experience to that of luxury electric trailers, but it’s a good deal for this kind of money.

Because the available space is so small, designers Fabien Denis and Jean-Marie Reymond had to use every inch of it to maximize it. Storage comes under the form of pleather pouches or nets that you can hang on the walls, and a secret cupboard next to the sliding drawer where the entire no-frills kitchen is tucked away.

This way, the kitchen can be used both outside the camper and inside, while the oversized door blurs the line between outdoor and indoor to create the illusion of more space. The kitchen includes a foldable sink, a camping stove, 12-liter water storage, cooking and dinnerware, and a 40-liter cooler. Inside, a foldable wooden leaf acts as counter, but the kitchen drawer also opens on the outside, for al fresco dinners.

Carapate camper promises a few days off the grid in maximum comfort and minimal space
Photo: Carapate
Pleather and wood furnishes offer this tiny camper a certain yachty, retro feel. The tear-drop-shaped exterior is made of military-grade plywood covered with a weather-resistant film, which makes Carapate durable but also light enough as to be towed by a compact.

“Woodworking was a central element in the trailer’s design – for its characteristics, its aesthetics, and its environmental sustainability,” Reymond says in an interview with Dwell. “Our design is inspired by various elements: tiny houses, watercraft, and caravans.”

The goal for the designers was to deliver maximum comfort at a fraction of the price of rival products, with a focus on sustainability. “The interior and exterior fittings are minimal, and the budget is reduced – we wanted to offer several options to choose from,” Reymond explains in the same interview.

Carriole sells for $12,500, while the basic Carapate model starts at $16,500. There are several color combinations to choose from, as well, which further drive the retro feel of this tiny but capable camper. For the time being, Carapate ships to Europe (Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK), but other countries will be added soon.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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